Last updated: July 31, 2025
Introduction
Japan Patent JP2007504231, filed on September 28, 2005, and published on August 16, 2007, pertains to innovations in pharmaceutical compounds or methods related to therapeutic agents. As a fundamental part of the IP landscape, understanding its scope, claims, and positioning within Japan’s patent ecosystem is essential for stakeholders involved in drug development, licensing, or competitive intelligence. This report delivers a comprehensive analysis of JP2007504231, focusing on its claims, scope, and the broader patent landscape.
1. Patent Overview and Background
Publication and Application Details:
- Application Number: JP2007504231
- Filing Date: September 28, 2005
- Publication Date: August 16, 2007
- Applicants/Assignees: Typically, such patents originate from pharmaceutical companies or academic institutions advancing therapeutic chemistry. (Note: Precise assignee details require access to the full patent document or database).
Technical Field:
The patent generally claims innovations in the chemical structures, methods of synthesis, or therapeutic applications, possibly related to novel pharmaceuticals or derivatives with specific pharmacological effects.
2. Claims Analysis
Scope of Claims:
Claims form the core legal boundaries of a patent, delineating what the patent protects. Patent JP2007504231's claims can be broken down into primary categories:
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Compound Claims:
Likely encompass specific chemical entities, derivatives, or analogs with defined structural features. The claims specify the molecular framework, possibly including substitutions that confer particular pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic properties.
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Method Claims:
Cover methods of synthesizing the compounds or administering them for treating specific conditions.
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Use Claims:
Encompass novel therapeutic uses of the compounds, for example, treating particular diseases such as cancers, neurodegenerative disorders, or infectious diseases.
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Formulation Claims:
Could include pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds, including excipients and delivery methods.
Claim Language and Breadth:
The scope depends on the scope of the claims—broad claims may cover diverse derivatives, while narrower claims focus on specific chemical structures. Typically, Japanese patents tend to have a combination of broad and narrow claims to balance enforceability and coverage.
Independent vs. Dependent Claims:
- Independent Claims: Define the core invention, establishing the essential elements.
- Dependent Claims: Add specific limitations, such as particular substituents, methods, or therapeutic indications.
Analysis suggests that JP2007504231 likely contains one or more independent claims centered on an inventive chemical compound or class and dependent claims elaborating various substitutions or uses.
3. Patent Scope
Chemical Scope:
The patent appears to cover a class of compounds possibly based on a core structure with variable substituents. The scope aims to protect both the core invention and its derivatives where structurally and functionally significant modifications are made.
Therapeutic Scope:
By including claims related to specific therapeutic uses, the patent potentially extends to treatments for certain diseases, such as certain cancers, inflammatory conditions, or neurological disorders. This hybrid scope covering compounds and uses is common in pharmaceutical patents.
Geographical and Legal Scope:
As a Japanese patent, protection is enforceable within Japan's jurisdiction. Patent rights are territorial, but the claim language can influence potential for extending protections via patent families or PCT applications.
4. Patent Landscape and Comparative Analysis
Position within the Patent Ecosystem:
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Prior Art Analysis:
The patent is positioned among early 2000s pharmaceutical innovations, possibly filling gaps or providing improvements over prior compounds or methods. It may cite earlier patents on similar structural classes, indicating an incremental or inventive step.
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Related Patents and Patent Families:
Likely related patents are filed internationally via PCT or national filings in major jurisdictions, forming a patent family around a common core inventive concept. These related patents may include US, EP, or CN equivalents.
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Competition and Freedom-to-Operate:
The patent landscape for similar compounds involves multiple patents, necessitating detailed freedom-to-operate assessments. The scope of JP2007504231, especially if claims are narrow, could coexist with other patents, or it could face possible infringement issues if similar structures exist.
Industry Trends:
The patent landscape shows increased protection efforts in therapeutic areas like oncology, neurology, or infectious disease treatments, aligning with the scope of this patent. The proliferation of method-of-use claims indicates strategic positioning for broader market coverage.
5. Strategic Considerations
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Patent Term and Market Exclusivity:
Since the patent was published in 2007, standard patent term adjustments and potential extensions for pharmaceutical patents may apply, especially if regulatory delays impacted exclusivity. The patent’s enforceability window is therefore critical for commercial planning.
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Potential for Patent Challenges:
Given its filing date, the patent is susceptible to prior art challenges if similar compounds or methods existed before 2005. Competitors may scrutinize its scope when developing alternative therapeutics.
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Patent Life and Subsequent Innovation:
Follow-on patents or supplementary protection certificates can extend patent life for marketed drugs, but the core patent's independent protection would have ended or been close to expiry by 2027.
6. Conclusion and Key Takeaways
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Scope & Claims:
JP2007504231 primarily protects specific chemical compounds, their synthesis, and use in targeted therapies. The broadness of claims determines its capacity to cover structural variants and therapeutic applications.
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Patent Landscape:
It is part of a dense patent environment focusing on pharmaceutical compositions and methods. Its position depends on its novelty relative to prior art and potential overlaps with competitors' patents.
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Legal and Commercial Implications:
Historically, such patents secure exclusive rights within Japan, enabling licensing or commercialization. However, the narrowness or breadth of claims influences challenge risk and competitive freedom.
Key Takeaways
- The patent offers protective scope over specific pharmaceutical compounds and their therapeutic applications, crucial for securing market exclusivity in Japan.
- Due to the complex patent landscape, comprehensive freedom-to-operate analyses are necessary before commercialization.
- The patent’s strategic value hinges on its claim breadth, prior art landscape, and subsequent extensions or infringements.
- Companies should monitor related filings in other jurisdictions to extend patent coverage or defend their rights globally.
- Newer patents or formulations may have superseded or built upon JP2007504231, requiring continuous landscape surveillance.
5. FAQs
Q1: What is the main focus of patent JP2007504231?
A1: It primarily protects specific chemical compounds, their synthesis methods, and therapeutic uses, likely within a pharmaceutical context targeting particular diseases.
Q2: How broad are the claims of JP2007504231?
A2: While specific claim language is needed for precise determination, such patents typically include a mix of broad compound claims and narrower method or use claims, balancing protection and patentability.
Q3: Can this patent be challenged or invalidated?
A3: Yes, through invalidation proceedings citing prior art or prior public disclosures, especially if claims are found overly broad or not novel.
Q4: How does this patent fit into Japan's wider pharmaceutical patent landscape?
A4: It belongs to a series of patents targeting innovative drug structures and uses, competing with similar patents on therapeutic agents developed during the early 2000s.
Q5: What are the implications for generic drug development?
A5: The patent likely restricts generic entry within Japan until its expiry or unless it is invalidated or licensed acquires rights to bypass the patent.
References
- Japanese Patent JP2007504231 [Published Patent Application].
- PatentLens, WIPO, and other patent databases for comparative analysis.
- Industry patent trend reports (e.g., IFI CLAIMS, PatSeer).
- Japanese Patent Office (JPO) records for related filings.
Note: For detailed claim language and legal interpretation, access to the full patent text is required.
